Apple has no clue what’s going on with dev contracts

Apple seems to be caught flat-footed and unprepared for the upcoming deluge of …

We are now just one month out from the time when the first iTunes Connect/App Store contracts are due to expire. To date, iTunes Connect has yet to offer any renewal option on its website to developers. This is despite the fact that the page itself says, "Within 90 days of your contract expiration, a renewal contract will be available to you in the ’Request New Contracts’ section above."

Ars gave the Apple Developer Connection a call this morning after Chris Foresman pointed us to this Apple Insider post about the situation. When attempting to renew an iPhone developer membership, we were told by the representative that Apple had not even implemented a process to do so yet.

"There is no process in place yet to renew it just now," the rep told us. "As soon as a process is in place, you'll be notified via e-mail or the website. It's a new program. This program was not yet in place last year, and Apple needs time."

When we explained that we were looking both to renew ADC memberships and to update iTunes Connect contracts, the representative instructed us to send a query to devcontracts@apple.com. She told us that ADC has been receiving a high call volume about these questions as there were "many developers in this situation." She also assured us that Apple will not be removing already-approved applications from the store.

We did in fact contact the iTunes Connect e-mail address, who wrote back to us saying, "Please refer to the Contact Us links at the bottom of iTunes Connect. devprograms should be able to assist you." Apparently 1 Infinite Loop does not just refer to a corporate street address.

(Apple PR did not respond to this request for comment by publication time.)

For those looking to pester Apple on their own, here's what you need to know:

Apple US Contact Information

United States Apple Developer Connection:

(408) 974 4897

(800) 633 2152

FAX: (408) 974 7683

http://developer.apple.com/contact/

iTunes Connect e-mail:

devcontracts@apple.com

itspayments@apple.com

Update: Apple's World Wide Developer Relations are apparently extending memberships on a case-by-case basis for large companies. Ars has learned of one developer whose membership was due to expire this weekend. The developer was assured that they would receive an e-mail soon and that their membership would not be allowed to expire.